I’ve heard a couple of comments recently about how things would be better without government. My mind boggles at this, and I am rendered almost speechless. Isn’t it obvious that there is no such thing as “no government?” Perhaps if one lived alone on a desert island, it would be possible. But with a population of two, some sort of governing would happen.

Rather than an impossible choice of government vs. no government, shouldn’t we instead ask “what kind of government?” We could have a monarchy, an oligarchy, a plutocracy or communism. Or we could have democracy.

Most people (excepting the monarchs, the oligarchs, the plutocrats, and those in power under communism) will choose democracy. Does democracy ensure that the government is perfect? Of course not. What should we do when we see flaws in our democratic government? How about working to fix them, while understanding that fixes take time?

There is no natural law that says a democracy will persist. Rather, it seems that it takes the time and attention of many, many people to keep a democracy functioning. I picture a ball, being kept aloft by a crowd, with many hands taking turns to keep the ball up. Our democracy needs everyone’s attention right now to keep it aloft.